Come To The Table

A friend of mine is on her way to China this summer for a second time. Lest you think she is planning to relocate, that is not the case. She will be accompanying her daughter to bring home her second grandson. Her daughter, who is a twin, is following in the footsteps of her sister who also adopted a little boy from China. Both her sister's son and this soon to be adopted boy, have some physical challenges. China's strict laws which limit parents to only giving birth to one child stacks the deck against families. In the Chinese culture, boys tend to be favored so if a family's first child is a girl, there is great disappointment. Some parents give their baby girls up to orphanages and there have been documented cases of infanticide. Children that are born with physical or mental challenges likewise have a dismal future. Only by God's grace and the love and compassion birthed in the hearts of those who see beyond a child's challenges brings hope for a better life. My friend and her daughter are on a mission of mercy in Jesus' Name. 

At The Kings's table

Biblically I am reminded of 2 Samuel 9 and the story of David and Mephibosheth. David was Israel's king and Mephibosheth was the son of David's best friend, Jonathan. Jonathan's father, Saul, became jealous of David's popularity and the fact that God had chosen David to become king. Saul's envy and disobedience to the Lord ultimately led to the wiping out of Saul's descendants. David because of his great love and friendship for Jonathan wanted to show some kindness to any remaining descendants of Saul's household. Mephibosheth was that descendant but there was a catch. The story in 2 Samuel tells us Mephibosheth was lame in both feet. His crippling condition resulted from an accidental fall at age 5 as his nurse dropped him while trying to flee in order to protect Mephibosheth from harm. (2 Samuel 4:4)  According to Jewish thought, people who were blind, lame, deaf, or suffering from any physical challenges or ailments were considered outcasts and receiving the punishment for some sin they or their parent's may have committed in the past. (John 9:1-2) I wonder how Mephibosheth felt growing up as an outcast? How did this little boy in China feel separated out from society through no fault of his own? David out of love and compassion takes Mephibosheth into his palace, orders his servants to take care of Mephibosheth's land and declares that this young outcast will no longer be a stranger but "will always eat at the king's table like one of the king's sons." (2 Samuel 10-11) The passage concludes, "And Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king's table; he was lame in both feet." (2 Samuel 9:13) 

No Longer An Outcast

So it is that this little Chinese boy who right now is confined to a wheelchair will no longer be an outcast but will always eat at the table of his adoptive mother despite his physical limitations. The love and compassion of my friend's daughter for this little boy is a glimpse of God's love for us. God's love towards us is so great that He not only accepts us as we are but He gave us His Son so we would always have a place at the table for eternity with Him in heaven. The invitation is free, all we need to do is accept God's gracious gift. So come to the table!
Shalom,
Pastor Sheree

Postscript: My friend who is going to China informed me that the country has since changed it's policy to now allow parents to have two children.